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Review
. 2009 Sep;9(9):644-54.
doi: 10.1038/nrc2682. Epub 2009 Aug 6.

RecQ helicases: multifunctional genome caretakers

Wai Kit Chu  1 , Ian D Hickson
Affiliations
Review

RecQ helicases: multifunctional genome caretakers

Wai Kit Chu et al. Nat Rev Cancer. 2009 Sep.

Abstract

Around 1% of the open reading frames in the human genome encode predicted DNA and RNA helicases. One highly conserved group of DNA helicases is the RecQ family. Genetic defects in three of the five human RecQ helicases, BLM, WRN and RECQ4, give rise to defined syndromes associated with cancer predisposition, some features of premature ageing and chromosomal instability. In recent years, there has been a tremendous advance in our understanding of the cellular functions of individual RecQ helicases. In this Review, we discuss how these proteins might suppress genomic rearrangements, and therefore function as 'caretaker' tumour suppressors.

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